Contemplative Bible Reading

Numbers 18:30-32 (New Living Translation)

³⁰ “Also, give these instructions to the Levites: When you present the best part as your offering, it will be considered as though it came from your own threshing floor or winepress. ³¹ You Levites and your families may eat this food anywhere you wish, for it is your compensation for serving in the Tabernacle. ³² You will not be considered guilty for accepting the Lord’s tithes if you give the best portion to the priests. But be careful not to treat the holy gifts of the people of Israel as though they were common. If you do, you will die.”

The people brought their offerings to the Levites at the Temple. The Levites were to follow instructions given by the LORD. Note the phrase in verse 32:

But be careful not to treat the holy gifts of the people of Israel as though they were common.

There was a difference between what was holy and what was common. There are several uses of the word “holy” in the Bible. One use is that items that were holy were set apart for a special purpose, set apart for the LORD. We (may) have similar holy items today, e.g., a building set apart to be used only in the service of God.

The warning to the Levites, and to all of the LORD’s people, was not to mix the items set apart for the LORD with everything else.

Today? Do I set aside a part of my life for God? Maybe my entire life is to be for God? Do I set aside some of my  money for God? Does all my money come from God and is His for me to use for Him?  I don’t have an answer.